During a major emergency:

Stay where you are (shelter-in-place) until you are informed that the emergency has passed or to evacuate

Evacuation

When events such as fire or floods endanger communities residents may need to evacuate the area until it is safe to return. Evacuation is the process of removing persons from an area of danger to an area of safety. Evacuation may be either local, affecting a single building or group of buildings, or widespread, affecting a whole community.

Evacuation Stages

Stage 1 - Evacuation Alert

An Evacuation Alert allows for the population at risk to begin preparing to voluntarily leave the affected area when it is necessary.

Prepare to evacuate children, the disable and elderly and relocate pets if possible

Arrange accommodation for your family if possible

Follow the directions of authorities

Stage 2 - Evacuation Order

Sometimes an Evacuation Order is immediate and no evacuation alert is given. In other cases an Evacuation Order may be preceded by an evacuation alert.

To order an evacuation, the head of a local government authority must declare a "State of Local Emergency" as enabled under the Emergency Program Act. These orders are issued in the interest of life safety and will be enforced and carried out by the RCMP, local police, fire, search and rescue, and local authorities though door-to-door contact, radio and television broadcasts and telephoning.

If an evacuation order is issued:

Stay calm!

Get your emergency kit

Go to the nearest evacuation site

Report to the reception centre and register with staffing personnel so friends and family can contact you

Keep a flashlight and portable radio with you

Follow the instructions of authorities

Take everything that you will need as you may not be able to return

Stage 3 - Rescind

Once the emergency is under control and the emergency area is declared safe, a rescind declaration is issued and residents will be allowed to return to their homes.

Shelter in Place

Occasionally an evacuation may cause more danger to residents than staying in place. In these cases such as sudden storms or earthquakes residents may need to shelter in place.

If you are told to shelter in place:

Go inside your home or the nearest building as soon as possible

Close all windows, doors, vents, fireplaces, and openings

Close all curtains and window coverings and stay away from windows

Seal any leaks with duct tape, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap

Turn off heating and ventilation systems

Avoid using elevators

Turn on the television or radio for emergency updates

Do not leave the building until you are advised that it is safe

Do not try to pick up your children as they will be safer sheltering at school

Remain where you are until you are told by authorities that it is safe to do otherwise.

Cell Phone use During an Emergency

It is important for you to keep in mind that during an emergency, many more people are trying to use their wireless and wireline telephones at the same time and may create network congestion. Some tips: